Vaccines of importance in the hospital setting. Problems and developments.

Hospital personnel may be exposed to or transmit certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Using immunizing agents optimally in hospitals will protect personnel as well as patients. Preventing illness in hospitals through comprehensive immunization policies can be more cost-effective than case management and outbreak control. Hospital-based immunization programs for patients provide an important strategy for immunizing high-risk patients. Immunizing patients protects them against preventable illnesses that may be acquired in the hospital or the community following discharge.